Frequently Asked Questions

Answer: Your Permit will be sent to your given address in China but not other countries; you will be required to send your proper address in China (Either apartment or hotel) with a telephone number; the postman will send your original Permit before your flight or train to China. On the other hand, if you are traveling from Kathmandu (Nepal) there is a different procedure as you will need to prepare the paper issued from the Embassy of China in Kathmandu. Please consult with your travel agent about it. Please check out Tibet Travel Procedure for more details.

Answer: Your travel agent applies for the necessary permits to TTB. The authority starts to issue permits 2-3 weeks before your departure. The travel agent uses the Permit 2-3 weeks in advance, which means you are requested to confirm your trip at least four weeks to avoid any risk.

Answer: No, it is impossible to travel to Tibet without an organized tour. A tour guide and permits are required to travel to Tibet from Nepal and Mainland China ports. You must process the Permit and book a tour guide through the tour operator.

Answer: Yes, wi-fi is available in each hotel in Lhasa.

Answer: Most of Tibetan people can speak very good English, unlike Chinese people.

Answer: Street food is not available everywhere. You can get some snacks (Tibetan delicacies) but not a proper meal. There are few restaurant, very cheap and nice, where you can dine out. If you don’t like Tibetan food (little spicy, based on yak meat and dairy products) you can easily get Indian or western style food.

Answer: Tibetans are extremely religious so you should respect their privacy when they pray (back off, don’t stay too close, be quiet, ask for photo permission, etc.). You should also show your respect and thankfulness when you receive any gifts from them. They don’t eat fish, dog, donkey and horse meat due to religion belief so don’t insult them eating these food in front of them. Moreover, when you visit temples you should follow prayers, wait in the queue, walk around them clockwise, don’t push people or overtake. Always follow the rules when going to monasteries and taking pictures inside temples is strictly forbidden.

Answer: You can either fly, take a train or go by road.

Answer: Independent travel in Tibet is prohibited. In order to get there, all foreign travelers need to book a travel tour with travel agency.

Answer: Nepal has a diverse range of elevations and climates, which can cause weather variations between regions, making it difficult to make general statements about seasonal weather. However, spring and fall are popular for trekking due to stable weather and clear skies, while winter and summer have unique advantages and fewer crowds. Winter is good for trekking in lower elevations and visiting the jungles of Chitwan and Bardia, while summer is best for visiting the “rain shadow” areas of Upper Mustang and Nar Phu.

Answer:  This depends on your interests and preferences, but most Goway passengers will visit the north on their first trip to India to see the TajMahal and the main sites in Rajasthan and Varanasi. South India can be done as an extension or a separate trip altogether. The most common places Goway passengers visit in southern India are Goa for the beaches and Kerala for a houseboat experience, but Chennai and Bangalore are other options. India is a large country so the climate, landscape, and culture vary depending on which region you visit.

Answer: Yes, English is commonly spoken throughout India. In fact, most children, particularly in the cities, learn English first in school. It is the most important language for commercial, national, and political status. Hindi is the national language and primary tongue for 40% of Indians. However, there are 21 other official languages, including Gujarati, Tamil, Punjabi and Sanskrit.

The official language in India is Hindi.

Answer: For its size, India has a very low crime rate and is generally a safe country. However, as with any international travel, please be aware of your surroundings. Always make sure your purse is zipped and wallets are in sealed pockets. In the markets, be vigilant of pick-pockets and distraction scams. Additionally, at the train/bus stations and airports, monitor your luggage at all times.

Answer: Immunizations are not required to visit India. (Exception: if you are traveling from an area infected with Yellow Fever, you must have a certificate.) Depending on the season and region of travel, certain vaccinations and/ or medications are suggested and we will recommend preventative measures. We do encourage all travelers to be current on routine immunizations. Also, we recommend the Tetanus and Hepatitis A vaccine.

Answer: It really depends on your destination, activities and season of travel. In much of Northern and Central India, the favored time to visit is from October – March, when the weather is most mild. In Southern and Eastern India, it is contingent on the monsoon season. Our destination specialists will recommend certain travel times after learning more about your preferences.

Answer: It all depends on your destination and season of travel. Much of India has a patchy climate: warmer in the days and cooler in the evenings. A light jacket or layering is best to accommodate the varying temperatures. Also, we suggest shoes that are comfortable for walking, including sandals and tennis shoes. A head cover may be required for women and men at certain sacred sites and places of worship.

Answer: Yes. India offers an electronic tourist visa on arrival (TVoA). Applicants of the eligible countries may apply online a minimum of four days in advance of the date of arrival with a window of 30 days. Example: If applying on 1st Sept, you can select an arrival date from 5th Sept to 4th Oct. This process is only valid for single entry and the visa validity will be 30 days from the date of arrival in India. For more information, please visit the India Electronic Travel Authorization.

If your trip exceeds 30 days in duration, or if you are planning to re-enter India after visiting other destinations, you will need to complete an application from Cox & Kings Global Services. Applications can be completed online.

Answer: Affordability – India is considered one of the top 15 most affordable destinations in the world.

People – Indians are very friendly and enjoy engaging with foreigners.

Ease of Communication – Most Indians can speak at least conversational English and internet/Wi-Fi/cell service is widely available.

Something for Everyone – India offers history, culture, architecture, adventure, Yoga, Ayurveda, cuisine, beaches, Himalayas, wildlife, backwaters, shopping, festivals, music, dancing, religion and spirituality – just to name a few!

Answer: If you fall ill during your trek, the course of action depends on what’s wrong. If it’s altitude sickness, moving to lower altitudes and taking altitude medication will solve most cases; if it’s quite severe, your guide will arrange for an emergency evacuation by helicopter (be sure that emergency helicopter rescue is covered in your travel insurance). If you have a stomach sickness or other types of food or water-related illnesses, your guide will have medication on-hand for most common illnesses.

Answer: Classifying the difficulty of a trek is somewhat tricky, as it depends on your fitness and experience hiking in the mountains. In the Himalaya, a trek’s difficulty depends on the steepness of the trail, the general altitude, and the duration of the trek. Generally, the higher you go the more difficult the trek becomes. For most treks in the lower foothills (Ghorepani, Ghandruk, and Pikey Peak), it’s fairly moderate trekking, although some days will be more challenging than others. For higher-altitude treks (Everest Base Camp, Gokyo, Annapurna Circuit and Nar Phu), the treks become more challenging as you’ll be going over 5,000m passes and longer days.

Answer: You should bring trekking boots that are comfortable and broken in. Especially when crossing high passes, there can be some snow so it’s good to be prepared for a variety of conditions. Your footwear doesn’t need to be warm but should be strong and durable. It should have a chunky sole—preferably made of Vibram or another durable material—and should also protect your ankles. There are a variety of styles available at any outdoor store made of leather or synthetic materials, so it’s really up to you what’s more comfortable.

Answer: You can buy virtually everything you need for trekking—from down jackets to water bottles—in Kathmandu. There is a variety of authentic name-brand store as well as a large selection of knock-off products that are fairly good quality. It’s still worth bringing your own gear if it doesn’t take up too much weight, especially your own trekking boots to avoid any potentials issues when purchasing new shoes.

Answer: You can leave your additional luggage at your hotel in Kathmandu or at the company office of your specialist. Either way, your luggage will be waiting for you at your hotel when you return back from your trek.

Answer: Your trek starts on the date that works best for you, given all of the tours our specialists organize are tailored to your travel dates. Typically, you need at least 1-2 days in Kathmandu prior to your trek in order for your specialist to organize the necessary trekking permits.

Answer: If you’re mainly looking to experience Nepal’s cultural and natural highlights, you can have a great experience in 5-7 days, where you can visit two regions (likely, Pokhara and Kathmandu). To get into the Himalaya on a multi-day trek, you’ll want at least 10 days to have enough time to reach higher altitudes and safely acclimatize. To undertake one of the longer, classic treks in Nepal or to combine multiple regions and activities into one visit, 14-20 days is ideal.

Answer: For mountain flights, you’re allowed 5 kg. for carry-on and 10 kg. for checked-in luggage. For non-mountain sector flights, the check-in allowance increases to 20-25 kg.

Answer: For most nationalities, you can get your visa on arrival in Kathmandu. It takes around 45 minutes and is the most convenient way to get your visa. You can also apply for a visa in advance from a local Nepali consulate in your country if you’d like to have everything arranged in advance.

Answer: Private trips are tailor-made itineraries built around your travel dates and personal interests, whereas group trips (which is what most tour companies offer) are pre-packaged and depart on specific dates. Group trips are also open for others to join, whereas private trips are just for you.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat proident.

Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor reprehenderit.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.